The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a clear warning: refrain from pointing lasers toward aircraft.

With the current issues surrounding drones in the Northeast, the agency has noted a significant increase in reports from pilots regarding laser incidents over the past few weeks.

“Pointing a laser at a plane poses a serious safety risk and violates federal law,” the FAA stated.

As per the FAA, laser pointers can cause distractions or temporarily blind pilots, putting the safety of countless passengers and those on the ground in jeopardy.

It’s a federal offense to direct a laser at an aircraft, which can lead to both civil and criminal repercussions, including a maximum prison sentence of five years.

Data from the FAA reveals that this year alone, at least 15 instances of laser strikes have led to injuries, although the nature or severity of those injuries has not been disclosed.

Laser incidents are especially perilous during critical flight stages like takeoff and landing when planes are closer to the ground. With three major airports situated in the New York City area, directing a laser at the sky here is particularly reckless.

“Laser strikes are a significant danger to the well-being of flight crews and overall flight safety. These events can result in temporary or even permanent blindness in pilots, impairing their ability to safely operate the aircraft, endangering passengers, and potentially jeopardizing their careers,” stated Capt. Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, a union representing pilots from numerous major airlines, in a statement to YSL News. “Deliberately targeting a laser at a plane is not a joke; it is a serious federal crime with severe repercussions.”

In light of this, the FAA has imposed temporary restrictions on drone operations in specific areas of New Jersey’s airspace as of Thursday.